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GROWING APPLES

Growing delicious crispy apples in your backyard is not difficult and these days dwarf varieties mean that they can be grown even in a small area

apple
It’s a safe bet that lots of people would agree that apples are their favorite fruit. They can be eaten fresh, used in desert, or baked in a pie.

It can be a daunting task for some to accommodate a full grown specimen which can be 19-26 foot high, but today’s breeders make the task easier for small gardens, you have a choice of dwarf stock which grow 8-10 ft or semi dwarf which grow 10-15ft. If you find you still can’t accommodate these sizes and you really want to be growing apples out the backyard, try espaliering your dwarf stock, a method where even the smallest yard can grow fruit. All these different types will bear normal sized fruit.
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Given the right conditions, they are not a difficult fruit to grow.  Growing two apple trees of different varieties with overlapping flowering periods is necessary to achieve cross pollination. A huge benefit in growing apples in your own backyard is you can choose what suits your taste rather than be restricted to what commercial growers and supermarkets dictate.

Planning is necessary before action is taken, deciding what space is available and where you will plant them. Apple trees are deciduous, meaning that they lose their leaves in winter, so they can be used in a position where summer shade or winter sun is needed in the garden.

If you have a limited space or simply want a little tree with big benfits, Li’l BIG is for you. Reaching 6 ft. tall at the most and producing half a bushel of fruit, Li’l BIGs like the Red Luscious Li’l Big are a snap to spray, prune and harvest compared to standard size trees. Li’l BIGs also are grown on specific root-stock which makes them resistant to fire blight, a devastating disease of fruit trees.

To reap the rewards growing apples will give, you should make sure they have at least 6 hours of sunshine in the summer months, and it’s critical that during their dormant months over winter that the temperature drops to a range of 32ºF-45ºF. These chilling requirements will encourage normal growth in the growing season of the apples.

Fuji Goldrush Red Luscious
Fuji Goldrush Red Luscious

Soil preparation is essential when growing apples. They are quite tolerant where soil conditions are concerned, however if you prepare in advance a plot which has good drainage along with a decent type of loam soil and a pH reading of 6.5, this will provide the ideal conditions for growing apples and a healthy tree.
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It’s recommend you buy two varieties for pollination purposes. Growing apples from seed takes a long time so it is strongly recommended that you buy young stock from a nursery. You will find it’s standard procedure for them to follow guidelines set up by the United States department of agriculture to label their trees giving the most appropriate zones where the plants they sell will thrive.

November is a good time to plant, but you can do this as late as March if needed. From time of planting it can take up to 10 years to reach maximum yield. Apple trees are usually sold bare rooted and when selecting the variety you want, make sure they look healthy. Check the roots to make sure they are nice and moist then keep them that way and plant as soon as possible.

Dig a hole big enough to accommodate the roots, then place the tree in the hole spreading the roots out so that they are not entangled. Back fill with soil pressing down firmly to ensure the roots stay in contact with the soil. It is essential that the graft is visible above the level of the soil. You can support the tree with a strong stake at this stage, (until it’s established), then give it a good drink of water after you have bedded it in. Retain moisture by applying a good helping of mulch around the base of the plants. To protect from abnormal temperatures in winter, raise the mulch higher up the young trunk or insulate with old sacks for this cold period only.

Tree Pruner
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When your tree starts to bear fruit, you should remove it by firmly holding the attachment of the stem and gently twisting the apple till it comes off. They are best eaten straight after picking for optimum taste but if you’re intentions are to store the apples, leave the stem attached, as it helps preserve them, and keep in a well ventilated cool, dark, moist location. You will often find that a lot of the fruit will ripen together but one way of avoiding this glut is by growing apples that fruit at different times, so long as there is that overlap period when they are blossoming to assist pollination.
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It is worthwhile learning to prune your trees as they need to be shaped to allow correct growth. The Pruning Stik Tree Pruner is specially designed for those who like both feet on the ground.